THE SYNTHESIS OF α-MONOFLUOROALKANOIC ACIDS

α-Monofluoroalkanoic acids are important intermediates in the synthesis of biologically active fluorine compounds. General methods of preparation have been examined, based on the three following reagents: (a) hydrogen fluoride + N-bromoacetamide; (b) diethyl monofluoromalonate; and (c) perchloryl fluoride. The first of these is the recommended procedure for simple unsubstituted α-fluoro acids; however, the fluoromalonate route is less vigorous, and is therefore the method of choice for those α-fluoro acids that contain labile functional groups.